Muscular Cramps

Definition

Muscle cramps are typically caused by chronic muscle shrinkage, excessive exercising or abnormal toning of the muscles.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of muscle cramps include tightness, discomfort, pain and tingling in the affected area.

Cause

Everybody experiences muscle cramping at some time, but those who are most vulnerable to it tend to live a sedentary lifestyle, do not exercise regularly, do not include magnesium-rich meals in their diet plan (especially vegetables) and/or eat an excess of foods that reduce calcium. Poor diet choices include: Meat, grains, soda, caffeinated drinks, refined sugar, and processed foods high in phosphates.

Muscle cramps can be caused by insufficient exercise, low thyroid performance, deficiencies in iron, magnesium, calcium, vitamin E, and/or folic acid, dietary imbalances, food allergies, excessive coffee consumption, spinal problems, uncomfortable shoes, past injuries, stress, bad circulation, heart disease, general fatigue, diabetes, and arthritis. In the event that muscle cramping becomes chronic, all of these elements must be tested for and addresses.

Note: Diuretic drugs can worsen muscle cramps and spasms because of their tendency to deplete the body of essential minerals, particularly potassium, calcium, and magnesium, and may create worse muscle spasms.

Natural Cures

Aromatherapy: Rosemary, lavender, marjoram, chamomile, or clary sage essential oil massaged into the affected area can offer rapid alleviation of most muscle cramping.

Diet: Eat a natural, whole foods diet that is calcium-rich as well as magnesium-rich such as green leafy vegetables, fruits (particularly apricots), organic yogurt, kefir, millet, raw nuts and seeds, and raw organic honey. Minimize your intake of citrus fruits, meats, and whole grains. Overall, you want your diet to be one that facilitates alkalinity as well as minimizes acidity, so you need to ensure each meal during the day is high in fruit or vegetable content. Also, eliminate coffee and other coffee drinks as well as drink lots of pure strained water during the day.

Flower Essences: Rescue Treatment Cream® applied topically within the affected area.

Herbs: As its title suggests, cramp bark tea is an excellent natural remedy for preventing and relieving muscle cramping. A tincture of equivalent parts lobelia and cramp bark can also be applied topically to soothe the impacted muscles.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the process of applying water, ice, steam and alternating cold and hot temperatures to restore health. Treatments include total body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation, and the application of warm and cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating an array of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a personal-treatment program. Many professionals including naturopathic physicians, physical therapists, and day spas use Hydrotherapy as part of their treatment routines. We suggest trying several at home hydrotherapy remedies but please seek the advice of an alternative healthcare practitioner prior to undergoing these treatments to ensure they are right for you.

*Purified water is essential for any hydrotherapy remedy.

Juice Therapy: Carrot, beet, celery, and cucumber juice can provide your body along with vital nutrition to minimize your risk associated with cramping.

Nutritional Supplementation: These nutrients are extremely helpful for relieving and stopping muscle cramping: calcium, magnesium, potassium, silica, trace minerals, a multi-mineral health supplement, vitamin B complex, vitamin B1, vitamin B3 (niacin), folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, and chlorophyll.

Muscle cramping, particularly in the calf muscles, also occurs because of an insufficient amount of sodium in the body. To prevent this add a tsp. of natural sea sodium or Celtic salt to a glass of water.

Topical Remedy: Massage cramping muscles with a mixture of grated ginger liquid and equivalent parts olive or sesame oil. Replicate as needed throughout the day.

Alternative Professional Care

If your symptoms persist despite following the remedies listed above, seek the assistance of a qualified health professional. The following professional treatment therapies have all been shown to be useful for dealing with muscle cramping: Acupressure, Acupuncture, Applied Kinesiology, Bodywork, Chiropractic care, Detoxification Therapy, Environmental Treatments, Hypnotherapy, Light box therapy, Magnetic Area Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, Orthomolecular Medicine, Osteopathy, Qigong, Reflexology, Rolfing, as well as Yoga. (See Glossary for descriptions of those alternative therapies.)